Tackling Problem Areas, Pruning Raspberries & Why Bare-Root Fruit Trees Save You Money — Episode 632

Welcome to this week’s blog post accompanying Episode 632 of The Veg Grower Podcast. In this episode, Richard shares what’s been happening on the allotment and in the kitchen garden during mid-November, tackles a few tricky areas, takes us through pruning summer raspberries, and explains why bare-root fruit trees can save you a fortune.







Allotment Update - Tackling problem areas



After a very wet Saturday, the weather dried up enough for a productive session on the allotment. Mid-November brings a noticeable shift: fewer people around, shorter days, and trees only now beginning to drop their leaves thanks to the mild autumn.



Tackling Problem Areas



Richard focuses on a few tricky spots this week:




The top boundary alongside an abandoned neighbouring plot, where brambles and tall weeds always creep across. Only so much can be done until the plot is re-let, but winter tidying keeps it under control.



The asparagus bed, now fully died back. Richard:

Cleared weeds around the crowns



Added homemade compost



Layered on seaweed from the local beach (with permission)



Finished with straw from the potato bedsAll to give the asparagus and rhubarb a strong start into spring.





Under the gooseberry bushes, where thick bramble growth has taken hold. After cutting them back to the base:

A few low gooseberry branches were removed for access



Some bramble roots were dug out



The plan now is regular hoeing to stay on top of regrowthIt’s part of a longer-term approach to improve the area while keeping things mostly no-dig.










Kitchen Garden Update - Pruning raspberries



Back home, the focus is on pruning summer raspberries.



Pruning Summer Raspberries



Summer-fruiting raspberries fruit on second-year canes. So the job now is to:




Cut the older, brown canes at ground level



Keep the younger, greener first-year stems for next year’s crop




Richard uses a system where one side of the raspberry bed is first-year growth and the other is second-year, making pruning simple and repeatable.



Autumn Raspberries



The autumn raspberries are still fruiting and even flowering, so they’ll be left until winter before being cut down.



In the Greenhouse



Things are still thriving:




Tomatoes have now been cleared



Habaneros, chillies, and aubergines are still fruiting



Strawberry plants, citrus, grape and peach trees are now sheltered inside



The Autopot system has performed brilliantly again



Planning ahead for sowing chillies and aubergines in December/January to make the most of the long season








Recipe of the Week: Habanero Honey Hot Sauce



With so many chillies still producing, Richard shares a beautifully balanced homemade hot sauce. It works with any type of chilli and stores well in the fridge.



The full recipe is available on the website.







The Podding Shed: Bare-Root Fruit Trees



It’s the perfect season for bare-root fruit trees — usually available from November to February — and they’re one of the best ways t...